In Memoriam
Since our founding in 1991, many people have contributed their energy and passion towards fulfilling our vision of conserving the land and waters of the Rangeley Lakes Region. Volunteers, employees, donors, friends and colleagues, and people young and old share a mutual love for the Rangeley community and its stunning natural beauty. We have acknowledged them below.
In Memoriam: Charlie Adkins
2/9/2023
He enlisted in the United States Navy where he served our country for four years while stationed in San Diego, Calif. and in the Philippines. His designation was as a Plane Captain in SP-5 aircraft in Patrol Squadron Forty-Eight (one of the last operational seaplane squadrons in the U.S. Navy) with a grade of ADR3 (E-4).
After serving in the Navy, he worked at the IP mill in Livermore Falls and then enrolled at the University of Maine at Machias where he earned a four-year degree in education. While attending college, he spent summer breaks working at the Mount Blue State Park. During the summer of 1971 he was the manager at Grafton Notch State Park. That fall, Charlie joined the Maine Warden Service where he proudly served for 24 years. He always said it was the best job in the world. His district was northern Oxford County up to the Canadian border.
From 1998 until the time of his passing, he and Carolyn operated the wilderness campsites at the northern end of Aziscohos Lake. To say that he was an avid outdoorsman is an understatement. He spent many hours hunting, fishing, camping and boating in the Aziscohos, Parmachenee and Magalloway River areas. Charlie was an amateur archaeologist; and in 1984, when man-made Aziscohos Lake was at a low level, he discovered a 10,000-to-11,000-year-old Palaeo-Indian stone structure, perhaps a meat storage cache. Artifacts from this Adkins site are curated at the Maine State Museum within a permanent exhibit.
Charlie, always early to bed and early to rise, was constantly on the go. He thoroughly enjoyed woodworking in his basement shop, collecting and reading books particularly about western Maine history, gardening, focusing on current events, and spending time in his favorite environment…the great Maine woods. For eight winters after retirement from the Warden Service, he and Carolyn drove their RV to Florida where they volunteered at state parks and Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges.
Charlie treasured his family and many friends, friends from his childhood, friends from the community, and lifelong friends made at the Warden Service.
Charlie was predeceased by his parents Charles Adkins of Dover-Foxcroft, and his mother, Florence (DeWitt) Adkins of Weld; sister, Sandra Barbour of Dixfield, brother-in-law, Tom McAllister of Dallas Plantation, and brother-in-law, Theodore Cochran of Weld.
He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 32 years, Carolyn Nobbs of Rangeley; son, Jonathan Adkins, wife Kelsey Orestis, and grandson Birch of Rangeley; daughter, Heather Downey, husband Sean, and grandchildren Wyatt and Olivia, all of Galena, Ohio; sister, Dorothy Cochran of Weld, and sister-in-law, Evelyn McAllister of Dallas Plantation.
The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the Androscoggin Home Health Care and Hospice personnel for superb care which allowed him to stay at home during his illness. He was so grateful.
As per Charlie’s wishes, there will be no funeral. Other arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan and Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Services of Farmington.
Anyone wishing to may send an appreciated memorial contribution in Charlie’s name to
Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice, Attn: Development Office, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston, ME 04240 or make your gift online at http://www.androscoggin.org/donate; or to the Rangeley Historical Society, P.O. Box 521, Rangeley, ME 04970
